Field termination assembly (FTA) with dampened mount

ABSTRACT

This disclosure provides a field termination assembly (FTA) providing for ease of mounting to a support rail. The FTA provides a lever on a base that cushions against shocks and vibrations during shipment and operation while a housing is mounted on a base secured to a support rail. The base includes a dampener feature which makes it more capable of meeting operation and transportation vibration and shock requirements even for marine applications while still providing high channel density and cable count.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from Indian Provisional Application201911003912, filed Jan. 31, 2019, incorporated herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure generally relates to input/output (I/O) systems. Morespecifically, this disclosure relates to a field termination assembly(FTA) for dampened mounting to a support rail.

BACKGROUND

Industrial process control and automation systems are often used toautomate large and complex industrial processes. These types of systemsroutinely include various components including sensors, actuators, andcontrollers. Some of the controllers can receive measurements from thesensors, possibly through connected input/output (I/O) subsystems andgenerate control signals for the actuators. Existing process control andautomation systems typically have hardware components participating incontrol and I/O functions that are installed in control rooms and in thefield. These hardware components are often used to gather I/Oinformation from the field, transmit that I/O information to the controlrooms, perform various control functions, and transmit I/O informationback to the field.

SUMMARY

This disclosure provides a field termination assembly (FTA) that absorbsimpact in an assembled mode during shipping and use. Shipping the FTA ina marshalling cabinet in a mounted condition may reduce assembly time.However, due to the higher channel density and cable count aconventional FTA may not pass transportation and operational vibrationand shock requirements. Operational requirements may be particularlychallenging for marine applications. As a result, FTA's can be prone todamage during operation and shipment in a mounted condition. A dampenedFTA base includes a dampener feature which cushions the vibrations inthe cabinet being transferred to the FTA and make it more capable formeeting operation and transportation vibration and shock requirementseven for marine applications while still providing high channel densityand cable count.

Other technical features may be readily apparent to one skilled in theart from the following figures, descriptions, and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of this disclosure, reference is nowmade to the following description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary industrial process control andautomation system according to this disclosure.

FIGS. 2-16 illustrate embodiments described in the following DetailedDescription.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 , discussed below, and the various embodiments used to describethe principles of the present invention in this patent document are byway of illustration only and should not be construed in any way to limitthe scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will understandthat the principles of the invention may be implemented in any type ofsuitably arranged device or system.

As noted above, industrial process control and automation systemstypically have hardware components participating in various control andinput/output (I/O) functions. Marshaling cabinets have been used togather the various components used for communicating over I/O channelsinto a single location. Often times, the various components are arrangedserially, with different columns of equipment performing differentfunctions and components in the different columns connected by wiring.

This disclosure describes a field termination assembly (FTA) thatintegrates signal conditioning hardware and other hardware for multipleI/O channels into a single structure. The FTA is suitable for use inmarshaling cabinets or other locations for industrial process controland automation systems or other systems. One or multiple FTAs can beused in a marshaling cabinet or other structure. The integration ofdifferent signal conditioning and hardware functions together into anFTA helps to achieve improved channel densities, lower overall hardwarefootprints, lower solution costs, and improved usability.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary industrial process control andautomation system 100 according to this disclosure. As shown in FIG. 1 ,the system 100 includes various components that facilitate production orprocessing of at least one product or other material. For instance, thesystem 100 can be used to facilitate control or monitoring of componentsin one or multiple industrial plants. Each plant represents one or moreprocessing facilities (or one or more portions thereof), such as one ormore manufacturing facilities for producing at least one product orother material. In general, each plant may implement one or moreindustrial processes and can individually or collectively be referred toas a process system. A process system generally represents any system orportion thereof configured to process one or more products or othermaterials or energy in different forms in some manner.

In the example shown in FIG. 1 , the system 100 includes one or moresensors 102 a and one or more actuators 102 b. The sensors 102 a andactuators 102 b represent components in a process system that mayperform any of a wide variety of functions. For example, the sensors 102a could measure a wide variety of characteristics in the process system,such as temperature, pressure, or flow rate. Also, the actuators 102 bcould alter a wide variety of characteristics in the process system.Each of the sensors 102 a includes any suitable structure for measuringone or more characteristics in a process system. Each of the actuators102 b includes any suitable structure for operating on or affecting oneor more conditions in a process system.

At least one I/O module 104 is coupled to the sensors 102 a andactuators 102 b. The I/O modules 104 facilitate interactions with thesensors 102 a, actuators 102 b, or other field devices. For example, anI/O module 104 could be used to receive one or more analog inputs (AIs),digital inputs (DIs), digital input sequences of events (DISOEs), pulseaccumulator inputs (PIs), or other inputs from one or more fielddevices. An I/O module 104 could also be used to provide one or moreanalog outputs (AOs), digital outputs (DOs), or other outputs to one ormore field devices. As described below, the interactions with one ormore field devices occur through one or more field terminationassemblies 114. Each I/O module 104 includes any suitable structure(s)for receiving one or more input signals from or providing one or moreoutput signals to one or more field devices.

The system 100 also includes various controllers 106. The controllers106 can be used in the system 100 to perform various functions in orderto control one or more industrial processes. For example, a first set ofcontrollers 106 may use measurements from one or more sensors 102 a tocontrol the operation of one or more actuators 102 b. These controllers106 could interact with the sensors 102 a, actuators 102 b, and otherfield devices via the I/O modules 104. A second set of controllers 106could be used to optimize the control logic or other operationsperformed by the first set of controllers. A third set of controllers106 could be used to perform additional functions. It is also possiblethat one set of controllers could be in a stand-by or load sharing modeto improve overall availability of the system.

Controllers 106 are often arranged hierarchically in a system. Forexample, different controllers 106 could be used to control individualactuators, collections of actuators forming machines, collections ofmachines forming units, collections of units forming plants, andcollections of plants forming an enterprise. The controllers 106 indifferent hierarchical levels can communicate via one or more networks108 and associated switches, firewalls, and other components.

Each controller 106 includes any suitable structure for controlling oneor more aspects of an industrial process. At least some of thecontrollers 106 could, for example, representproportional-integral-derivative (PID) controllers or multivariablecontrollers, such as Robust Multivariable Predictive Control Technology(RMPCT) controllers or other types of controllers implementing modelpredictive control (MPC) or other advanced predictive control. As aparticular example, each controller 106 could represent a computingdevice running a real-time operating system, a WINDOWS operating system,or other operating system.

The one or more networks 108 couple the controllers 106 and otherdevices in the system 100. The network 108 facilitates the transport ofinformation between components. The network 108 could represent anysuitable network or combination of networks. As particular examples, thenetwork 108 could represent at least one Ethernet network.

Operator access to and interaction with the controllers 106 and othercomponents of the system 100 can occur via various operator stations110. Each operator station 110 could be used to provide information toan operator and receive information from an operator. For example, eachoperator station 110 could provide information identifying a currentstate of an industrial process to an operator, such as values of variousprocess variables and warnings, alarms, or other states associated withthe industrial process. Each operator station 110 could also receiveinformation affecting how the industrial process is controlled, such asby receiving setpoints for process variables controlled by thecontrollers 106 or other information that alters or affects how thecontrollers 106 control the industrial process. Each operator station110 includes any suitable structure for displaying information to andinteracting with an operator.

Multiple operator stations 110 can be grouped together and used in oneor more control rooms 112. Each control room 112 could include anynumber of operator stations 110 in any suitable arrangement. In someembodiments, multiple control rooms 112 can be used to control anindustrial plant, such as when each control room 112 contains operatorstations 110 used to manage a discrete part of the industrial plant.

The foregoing represents a brief description of one type of industrialprocess control and automation system that may be used to manufacture orprocess one or more materials. Additional details regarding industrialprocess control and automation systems are well-known in the art and arenot needed for an understanding of this disclosure. Also, industrialprocess control and automation systems are highly configurable and canbe configured in any suitable manner according to particular needs.

In particular embodiments, the various controllers 106 and operatorstations 110 in FIG. 1 may represent computing devices. For example,each of the controllers and operator stations could include one or moreprocessing devices, such as one or more microprocessors,microcontrollers, digital signal processors (DSPs), field programmablegate arrays (FPGAs), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs),or discrete circuitry. Each of the controllers 106 and operator stations110 could also include one or more memories for storing instructions anddata used, generated, or collected by the processing device(s), such asa random access memory, read only memory, Flash memory, optical disc,hard drive, or any other suitable volatile or non-volatile storagedevice(s). Each of the controllers 106 and operator stations 110 couldfurther include at least one network interface, such as one or moreEthernet interfaces or wireless transceivers.

In process control and automation systems such as the system 100, I/Ochannels are used to connect controllers (such as the controllers 106)and field devices (such as the sensors 102 a and actuators 102 b). Ingeneral, the I/O modules 104 or other devices can support I/O channelsof various types, including AIs, DIs, DISOEs, PIs, AOs, or DOs.Different I/O channel types are characterized by different inputs,outputs, voltages, currents, and configurations. A universal I/O (UIO)channel is a specialized I/O channel that is reconfigurable to operateas any of multiple I/O channel types. Example types of UIO circuits areshown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,072,098; 8,392,626; 8,656,065; and U.S. PatentPublication No. 2015/0278144. UIO circuits that support UNIVERSALCHANNEL TECHNOLOGY available from HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC. are alsosuitable for use.

As described in more detail below, at least one field terminationassembly 114 can be used in the system 100 or other system. Each fieldtermination assembly 114 includes a backplane with one or more slotsconfigured to receive one or more adaptor modules for one or more I/Ochannels (such as sixteen I/O channels, although other numbers of I/Ochannels can be supported). Each of the adaptor modules performs one ormore functions related to I/O signals, such as signal conditioning,energy limiting, galvanic isolation, or protection (or any combinationthereof). Here, the adaptor modules can operate independently, meaningeach adaptor module can perform its function(s) for its I/O channelregardless of whether other adaptor modules are present or what thoseother adaptor modules are doing. Each field termination assembly 114also includes electrical terminals (such as screw terminals) allowingthe field termination assembly 114 to be coupled to field cables thatelectrically connect the field termination assembly 114 to one or morefield devices. In some embodiments, the field termination assembly 114can include at least two electrical terminals per field device. Inparticular embodiments, the field termination assembly 114 can includeat least three electrical terminals per field device, and the fieldtermination assembly 114 can automatically sense the number of wiresused to communicate with each field device. This may allow, forinstance, the field termination assembly 114 to be coupled to two-wire,three-wire, or other field devices seamlessly.

Although FIG. 1 illustrates one example of an industrial process controland automation system 100, various changes may be made to FIG. 1 . Forexample, the system 100 could include any number of sensors, actuators,I/O modules, controllers, operator stations, networks, field terminationassemblies, and other components. Also, the makeup and arrangement ofthe system 100 in FIG. 1 is for illustration only. Components could beadded, omitted, combined, or placed in any other suitable configurationaccording to particular needs. Further, particular functions have beendescribed as being performed by particular components of the system 100.This is for illustration only. In general, control and automationsystems are highly configurable and can be configured in any suitablemanner according to particular needs. In addition, FIG. 1 illustratesone example operational environment in which one or more fieldtermination assemblies can be used. This functionality can be used inany other suitable system, and the system need not be related toindustrial process control and automation.

FIG. 2 depicts a field termination assembly 114 comprising a housing 12shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 and a base 14 shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 . FIG. 3depicts the housing 12 separate from a plurality of adaptor modules 18.The housing 12 includes one or a plurality of slots 16. Each slot 16 maybe configured to receive a respective adaptor module 18 of the pluralityof adaptor modules configured to be inserted into the slot 16. Theadaptor module 18 may be configured to perform at least one functionrelated to an associated input or output signal.

FIGS. 2 and 4 depict the field termination assembly 114 with therespective adaptor module 18 in each slot 16. The housing 12 isconfigured to be mounted to the base 14. The base 14 is showndisassembled from the housing 12 in FIGS. 5 and 6 , and the housing 12is shown disassembled from the base 14 in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6 .

Turning to FIGS. 5 and 6 , the base 14 includes a loop 30 comprising anopening projecting from its front edge. The base 14 may include two suchloops 30 projecting from its front edge at the corners. The housing 12includes a catch 32 that may engage the loop 30 to hingeably couple thebase 14 to the housing. The housing 12 may have two such catches 32,each having a position and configuration corresponding to a respectiveloop 30 on the base 14. The housing 12 may include a hitch 34 that maybe located on its back side on a side opposite the catches 32. The base14 may include a latch 36 comprising an aperture 37. The latch mayproject orthogonally from the back edge opposite to the front edge fromwhich the loops 30 project. The latch 36 is configured such that theaperture 37 engages the 34 hitch to mount the housing 12 to the base 14in a latched arrangement.

The housing 12 and the base 14 are movable between a first coupledposition shown in FIG. 7 to a second mounted position shown in FIG. 8 .The catch 32 on the housing extends through a respective loop 30 on thebase 14 to engage the loop 30 in a first coupled position. In an aspect,two catches 32 on the housing 12 extend through corresponding respectiveloops 30 on the base 14 to engage the loop 30 in a first coupledposition shown in FIG. 7 . The catches 32 move in the loops 30 of thehousing 12, such that the housing 12 and the base 14 pivot with respectto each other about the catch 32 into a second mounted position in whichthe hitch 34 snaps into the aperture 37 on the latch 36 thereby latchingthe housing 12 to the base 14 as shown in FIG. 8 . Similarly, the latch36 can be disengaged from the hitch 34 and the housing 12 and basepivoted away from each other about the catch 32 to move from the mountedposition to the coupled position. The catches 32 can be removed from theloops 30 as shown in FIG. 6 to readily remove the housing 12 from thebase 14. Hence, the housing 12 is readily snap-mounted onto the base 14,and the housing is readily dismounted from the base without the need forhand tools. Pivoting preferably occurs along the front edge of thehousing 12 and the base 14.

As shown best in FIG. 5 , the latch 36 includes a beveled distal edge 38to facilitate engagement with the hitch 34 (FIG. 6 ). The latch 36includes a recessed track 40 along which the hitch 34 rides into theaperture 37 to engage the latch. In an aspect, the housing includes alug 42 (FIG. 6 ) at a higher elevation and height on the back wall ofthe housing 12 than the hitch 34. The lug 42 can engage the recessedtrack 40 and deflect the latch 36 away from the hitch 34 until the hitchaligns with the aperture 37 to enable the latch 36 to snap onto thehitch 34 such that the hitch 34 protrudes through the aperture 37.

As shown in FIG. 9 , the base 14 is configured to be secured to asupport rail 20. A typical support rail 20 may be a DIN rail. Typically,the housing 12 is configured to be mounted to the base 14 after the baseis secured to the support rail 20. The base 14 includes an opening 22through which a pin 24 such as a bolt extends to engage a plate 26 suchas a nut to cooperatively grip a first flange 28 on the support rail 20as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 . The base 14 may also include an additionalopening 22 through which an additional pin 24 such as a bolt extends toengage an additional plate 26 such as a nut to cooperatively grip thefirst flange 28 on the support rail 20 as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.

As shown in FIGS. 9-12 , the base 14 includes a recess 50 for receivingthe support rail 20. A groove 52 on a first side of the 50 recessaccepts a first flange 28 on a first edge of the support rail 20, and achannel 54 on a second side of the recess 50 receives a second flange 56on a second edge of the support rail 20. The channel 54 can be seen inFIG. 12 to be defined by one or more lips 58 protruding into the recess50 from the second side. The channel 54 receives the second flange 56 ina first received position and the base 14 and the support rail 20 pivotwith respect to each other such that the groove 52 receives the firstflange 28 of the support rail 20 in a secured position in which the pin24 can engage the plate 26 to secure the base 14 to the support rail 20.A longitudinal axis 60 of the groove 52 may define an acute angle with aplane defined by said recess 50 to ease entry of said first flange 28into the groove 52. The plate 26 may comprise an internally threadednut. Moreover, the plate 26 may comprise an internally threaded nut witha flat edge that may engage a flat side of the groove 52 to enabletightening of a pin, which may be an externally threaded bolt, withouthaving to hold the nut against rotation while tightening the bolt, asshown in FIG. 11 .

The base 14 may be equipped with a dampening feature. As shown in FIGS.15 and 16 , the base 14 comprises a lever 70 and a mount 72. The lever70 is configured to be removably secured to the support rail 20 at afirst end 71 as previously described and a second end 73 of the lever 70is attached to the mount 72. The housing 12 is configured to be mountedto the mount 72. The lever 70 is attached to the mount 72 at a fulcrum74 which is configured and dimensioned to enable the lever 70 to pivoton the fulcrum 74. The mount 72 has a top 75 to which said housing 12 isconfigured to be mounted and a bottom 76 to which said lever 70 isattached by the fulcrum 74. FIGS. 15 and 16 are oriented such that thetop 75 is down and the bottom 76 is up.

The dampening action of the base 14 is provided as follows. The lever 70includes a foot 78 at the first end 71. The foot 78 is normally in aresting position spaced apart from the bottom 76 of the mount 72 asshown in FIG. 15 . The foot 78 may pivot by action of the lever 70 aboutthe fulcrum 74 from the resting position to a flexed position inengagement with the bottom 76 of the mount as shown in FIG. 16 . Hence,when the base 14 is mounted to the support rail 20, as previouslydescribed, the levering action of the lever 70 cushions or dampens thehousing 12 and its electronic components against vibrations and otherimpacts typically encountered during transportation and operation. Thesecond end 73 of the lever 70 includes a stop 80 which prevents thefirst end 71 of the lever from pivoting excessively away from engagementwith the bottom 76 of the mount 72, which may tend to strain the fulcrum74. The stop 80 has a distal end 82 opposite the fulcrum toward thesecond end 73 of the lever 70 which will engage the bottom 76 of themount 72 if the lever 70 is pivoted excessively counterclockwise.

The securement of the base 14 to the support rail 20 can be explained inmore detail in light of FIGS. 15 and 16 . The recess 50 in the base 14that receives the support rail 20 shown in FIG. 9 is provided in abottom of the lever 70. The groove 52 that accepts the first flange 28of the support rail 20 shown in FIG. 9 is on the first side of therecess 50. The opening 22 through which the pin 24 can be extended toengage a plate 26 to cooperatively grip the flange 28 on the supportrail 20, as shown in FIGS. 9-11 , is in the first end 71 of the lever70. The channel 54, shown in FIG. 12 , on the second side of the recess70 that receives the second flange 56 of the support rail 20 is providedbetween lever 70, specifically the recess 50, and the lips 58. The acuteangle Θ the longitudinal axis 60 of the groove 52 defines with a planedefined by the recess 50 can be seen in FIG. 15 .

As shown in FIG. 13 , a support rail 20 may be located in a cabinet 116.For example, the support rail 20 may be integrated into an I-beam 118with a cabinet flange 120 of the I-beam fastened to a surface 122 in thecabinet 116. The support rail 20 is opposed to the cabinet flange 120and connected to the cabinet flange by the web 124. A cabinet 116 maycontain more than one support rail 20. Therefore, the cabinet maycontain more than one I-beam 118. A plurality of bases 14 may be securedto the support rail 20 in the cabinet 116. An I-beam 118 may extend theheight of the cabinet 116 to support a plurality of bases 14 on a singlesupport rail 20. A cable duct 126 may be nested between the base flange120, the web 124 and the support rail 20 on three sides of its foursides. The cable duct 126 may have openings or slots on the sideadjacent to the support rail 20 to allow entry and exit of cabling whichcan run along the height of the support rail 20 among a plurality ofbases 14 supported thereon. Cable ducts 126 may be disposed on bothsides of the web 124 of the I-beam. Openings may also be provided on aside of the cable duct adjacent to the surface 122 of the cabinet 116.

A process for mounting the field termination assembly 114 to the supportrail 20 comprises securing the base 14 to the support rail as shown inFIG. 13 . A process for mounting a plurality of the field terminationassemblies 114 to the support rail 20 comprises securing a plurality ofthe bases 14 to the support rail as shown in FIG. 13 . A process formounting a plurality of the field termination assemblies 114 to thesupport rail 20 comprises securing a plurality of the bases 14 torespective ones of a plurality of support rails as shown in FIG. 13 .

As shown in FIG. 14 , respective ones of a plurality of housings 12 maybe mounted on respective ones of the plurality of bases 14. Moreover,respective ones of a plurality of housings 12 may be mounted onrespective ones of the plurality of bases 14 which are mounted onrespective ones of a plurality of support rails 20. Hence, the processof mounting the field termination assembly 114 to the support rail 20comprises mounting the housing 12 on the base 14.

Referring to FIG. 7 , the catch 32 on the housing 12 engages the loop 30on the base 14 in a first coupled position. As shown in FIG. 8 , the 12housing and the base 14 pivot with respect to each other into the secondmounted position. The latch 36 on the base 14 engages a hitch 34 on thehousing in the second mounted position. Hence, the housing 12 is easilymounted onto the base 14 when the housing is loaded with adaptor modules18 into the respective slots 16 and when the base 14 is secured to asupport rail 20. Moreover, the housing 12 is easily dismounted from thebase 14 when the housing is loaded with adaptor modules 18 into therespective slots 16 and when the base 14 is secured to a support rail20.

Each field termination assembly 114 can further include at least onecable duct 126. The cable duct allows cables (such as cables couplingthe field termination assembly 114 to sensors 102 a, actuators 102 b, orother field devices or to controllers 106) to be routed in a safe andconcealed manner. Also, in some embodiments, the field terminationassembly 114 can be assembled from multiple parts to form an integratedphysical subsystem, and the assembled subsystem can then be mounted(such as to a cabinet). The assembled subsystem allows cables to passthrough the cable duct, which can help make installation and maintenanceeasier. In some embodiments, the cables can be routed through a cableduct so that the cables are accommodated behind a base of a fieldtermination assembly 114. This allows for the use of more fieldtermination assemblies 114 in lateral directions or for easier isolationof the cables from one another.

Various other features can also be used with each field terminationassembly 114. For example, slots of the field termination assembly 114could be bypassed, such as when an adaptor module is implementedexternally and coupled to the field termination assembly 114. As anotherexample, the field termination assembly 114 and its cabling can complywith any suitable hazardous location (HazLoc) requirements. As yetanother example, the field termination assembly 114 can include at leastone printed circuit board (PCB) forming the backplane, and a safetyearth ground connection to the PCB can be made with a rail, cabinet, orother structure without any additional cabling of clips. As stillanother example, adequate insulation can be provided on fuse anddisconnect terminals of the field termination assembly 114 to avoidexposing high-voltage terminals to an operator while opening or afteropening one or more of the fuse/disconnect levers. This can help toprotect the operator from high-voltage or thermal hazards, which can beuseful when the field devices coupled to the field termination assembly114 are of the high-voltage type.

In some embodiments, one or more field termination assemblies 114 can beused in a marshaling cabinet 116 or other marshaling structure. Themarshaling structure can include additional components to supportvarious functions, such as signal conditioning and protection of I/Ochannels. Note, however, that the field termination assemblies 114 canbe used in any other suitable manner.

It may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words andphrases used throughout this patent document. The terms “include” and“comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion withoutlimitation. The term “or” is inclusive, meaning and/or. The phrase“associated with,” as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include,be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within,connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperatewith, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have,have a property of, have a relationship to or with, or the like. Thephrase “at least one of,” when used with a list of items, means thatdifferent combinations of one or more of the listed items may be used,and only one item in the list may be needed. For example, “at least oneof: A, B, and C” includes any of the following combinations: A, B, C, Aand B, A and C, B and

C, and A and B and C.

The description in the present application should not be read asimplying that any particular element, step, or function is an essentialor critical element that must be included in the claim scope. The scopeof patented subject matter is defined only by the allowed claims.Moreover, none of the claims is intended to invoke 35 U.S.C. § 112(f)with respect to any of the appended claims or claim elements unless theexact words “means for” or “step for” are explicitly used in theparticular claim, followed by a participle phrase identifying afunction. Use of terms such as (but not limited to) “mechanism,”“module,” “device,” “unit,” “component,” “element,” “member,”“apparatus,” “machine,” “system,” “processor,” or “controller” within aclaim is understood and intended to refer to structures known to thoseskilled in the relevant art, as further modified or enhanced by thefeatures of the claims themselves, and is not intended to invoke 35U.S.C. § 112(f). While this disclosure has described certain embodimentsand generally associated methods, alterations and permutations of theseembodiments and methods will be apparent to those skilled in the art.Accordingly, the above description of example embodiments does notdefine or constrain this disclosure. Other changes, substitutions, andalterations are also possible without departing from the spirit andscope of this disclosure, as defined by the following claims.

Specific Embodiments

While the following is described in conjunction with specificembodiments, it will be understood that this description is intended toillustrate and not limit the scope of the preceding description and theappended claims.

A first embodiment of the disclosure is an apparatus comprising a fieldtermination assembly comprising a housing including one or more slots,each slot configured to receive a respective adaptor module configuredto be inserted into the slot, the adaptor module configured to performat least one function related to an associated input or output signal; abase comprising a lever configured to be secured to a support rail at afirst end and a mount, a second end of the lever being attached to themount; and the housing being configured to be mounted to the mount. Anembodiment of the disclosure is one, any or all of prior embodiments inthis paragraph up through the first embodiment in this paragraph,wherein the mount has a top to which the housing is configured to bemounted and a bottom to which the lever is attached. An embodiment ofthe disclosure is one, any or all of prior embodiments in this paragraphup through the first embodiment in this paragraph, wherein the lever isattached to the mount at a fulcrum, the lever being pivotable on thefulcrum. An embodiment of the disclosure is one, any or all of priorembodiments in this paragraph up through the first embodiment in thisparagraph wherein the lever includes a foot at the first end, the footmay pivot from a resting position spaced apart from the bottom to aflexed position in engagement with the bottom. An embodiment of thedisclosure is one, any or all of prior embodiments in this paragraph upthrough the first embodiment in this paragraph wherein the base includesa recess in a bottom of the lever for receiving a support rail, a grooveon a first side of the recess accepts a flange of the support rail. Anembodiment of the disclosure is one, any or all of prior embodiments inthis paragraph up through the first embodiment in this paragraph,wherein the first end of the lever includes an opening through which apin extends to engage a plate to cooperatively grip the flange on thesupport rail. An embodiment of the disclosure is one, any or all ofprior embodiments in this paragraph up through the first embodiment inthis paragraph, wherein the flange comprises a first flange, and achannel on a second side of the recess receives a second flange of thesupport rail. An embodiment of the disclosure is one, any or all ofprior embodiments in this paragraph up through the first embodiment inthis paragraph wherein the channel receives the second flange in a firstreceived position and the base and the support rail pivot with respectto each other such that the groove receives the first flange of thesupport rail in a secured position in which the pin can engage the plateto secure the base to the support rail. An embodiment of the disclosureis one, any or all of prior embodiments in this paragraph up through thefirst embodiment in this paragraph in which the groove defines an acuteangle with a plane defined by the recess. An embodiment of thedisclosure is one, any or all of prior embodiments in this paragraph upthrough the first embodiment in this paragraph, wherein the second endof the lever includes a stop which prevents the first end of the leverfrom pivoting excessively away from engagement with the bottom of themount. An embodiment of the disclosure is one, any or all of priorembodiments in this paragraph up through the first embodiment in thisparagraph, wherein the mount includes a loop and the housing includes acatch configured to engage the loop in a first coupled position and thehousing includes a hitch and the base includes a latch, the housing andthe base pivot with respect to each other to enable the latch to engagethe hitch to mount the base to the housing in a second mounted position.

A second embodiment of the disclosure is an apparatus comprising a fieldtermination assembly comprising a housing including one or more slots,each slot configured to receive a respective adaptor module configuredto be inserted into the slot, the adaptor module configured to performat least one function related to an associated input or output signal; abase comprising a lever configured to be secured to a support rail at afirst end and a mount, a second end of the lever being attached to themount at a fulcrum, the lever being pivotable on the fulcrum; and thehousing being configured to be mounted to the mount. An embodiment ofthe disclosure is one, any or all of prior embodiments in this paragraphup through the second embodiment in this paragraph, wherein the mounthas a top to which the housing is configured to be mounted and a bottomto which the lever is attached. An embodiment of the disclosure is one,any or all of prior embodiments in this paragraph up through the secondembodiment in this paragraph wherein the lever includes a foot at thefirst end, the foot may pivot from a resting position spaced apart fromthe bottom to a flexed position in engagement with the bottom. Anembodiment of the disclosure is one, any or all of prior embodiments inthis paragraph up through the second embodiment in this paragraphwherein the base includes a recess in a bottom of the lever forreceiving a support rail, a groove on a first side of the recess acceptsa flange of the support rail. An embodiment of the disclosure is one,any or all of prior embodiments in this paragraph up through the secondembodiment in this paragraph, wherein the first end of the leverincludes an opening through which a pin extends to engage a plate tocooperatively grip the flange on the support rail. An embodiment of thedisclosure is one, any or all of prior embodiments in this paragraph upthrough the second embodiment in this paragraph, wherein the flangecomprises a first flange, and a channel on a second side of the recessreceives a second flange of the support rail. An embodiment of thedisclosure is one, any or all of prior embodiments in this paragraph upthrough the second embodiment in this paragraph wherein the channelreceives the second flange in a first received position and the base andthe support rail pivot with respect to each other such that the groovereceives the first flange of the support rail in a secured position inwhich the pin can engage the plate to secure the base to the supportrail. An embodiment of the disclosure is one, any or all of priorembodiments in this paragraph up through the second embodiment in thisparagraph in which the groove defines an acute angle with a planedefined by the recess.

A third embodiment of the disclosure is an apparatus comprising a fieldtermination assembly comprising a housing including one or more slots,each slot configured to receive a respective adaptor module configuredto be inserted into the slot, the adaptor module configured to performat least one function related to an associated input or output signal; abase comprising a lever configured to be secured to a support rail at afirst end and a mount, a second end of the lever being attached to themount; the housing being configured to be mounted to the mount, themount including a loop and the housing including a catch configured toengage the loop in a first coupled position and the housing including ahitch and the base includes a latch, the housing and the base pivot withrespect to each other to enable the latch to engage the hitch to mountthe base to the housing in a second mounted position.

Without further elaboration, it is believed that using the precedingdescription that one skilled in the art can utilize the presentdisclosure to its fullest extent and easily ascertain the essentialcharacteristics of this disclosure, without departing from the spiritand scope thereof, to make various changes and modifications of thedisclosure and to adapt it to various usages and conditions. Thepreceding preferred specific embodiments are, therefore, to be construedas merely illustrative, and not limiting the remainder of the disclosurein any way whatsoever, and that it is intended to cover variousmodifications and equivalent arrangements included within the scope ofthe appended claims.

In the foregoing, all temperatures are set forth in degrees Celsius and,all parts and percentages are by weight, unless otherwise indicated.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising a field terminationassembly comprising: a housing including one or more slots, each slot ofthe one or more slots is configured to receive a respective adaptormodule configured to be inserted into said slot, said adaptor moduleconfigured to perform at least one function related to an associatedinput or output signal; a base comprising a lever configured to besecured to a support rail at a first end and a mount, a second end ofsaid lever being attached to said mount, wherein said lever includes afoot at said first end, said foot is configured to pivot from a restingposition spaced apart from a bottom of said mount to a flexed positionin engagement with said bottom; and said housing being configured to bemounted to said mount.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said mounthas a top to which said housing is configured to be mounted and saidbottom to which said lever is attached.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2,wherein said lever is attached to said mount at a fulcrum, said leverbeing pivotable on said fulcrum.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 whereinsaid base includes a recess in a bottom of said lever for receiving asupport rail, a groove on a first side of said recess accepts a flangeof the support rail.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first endof the lever includes an opening through which a pin extends to engage aplate to cooperatively grip the flange on the support rail.
 6. Theapparatus of claim 4, wherein the flange comprises a first flange, and achannel on a second side of said recess receives a second flange of saidsupport rail.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said channel receivessaid second flange in a first received position and said base and saidsupport rail pivot with respect to each other such that said groovereceives said first flange of said support rail in a secured position inwhich said pin can engage said plate to secure said base to said supportrail.
 8. The apparatus of claim 4 in which said groove defines an acuteangle with a plane defined by said recess.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein said second end of said lever includes a stop which prevents thefirst end of the lever from pivoting excessively away from engagementwith the bottom of the mount.
 10. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein saidmount includes a loop and said housing includes a catch configured toengage said loop in a first coupled position and the housing includes ahitch and said base includes a latch, said housing and said base pivotwith respect to each other to enable said latch to engage said hitch tomount said base to said housing in a second mounted position.
 11. Anapparatus comprising a field termination assembly comprising: a housingincluding one or more slots, each slot of the one or more slots isconfigured to receive a respective adaptor module configured to beinserted into said slot, said adaptor module configured to perform atleast one function related to an associated input or output signal; abase comprising a lever configured to be secured to a support rail at afirst end and a mount, a second end of said lever being attached to saidmount at a fulcrum, said lever being pivotable on said fulcrum, whereinsaid lever includes a foot at said first end, said foot is configured topivot from a resting position spaced apart from a bottom of said mountto a flexed position in engagement with said bottom; and said housingbeing configured to be mounted to said mount.
 12. The apparatus of claim11, wherein said mount has a top to which said housing is configured tobe mounted and said bottom to which said lever is attached.
 13. Theapparatus of claim 12 wherein said lever includes a foot at the firstend, the foot may pivot from a resting position spaced apart from saidbottom to a flexed position in engagement with said bottom.
 14. Theapparatus of claim 13 wherein said base includes a recess in a bottom ofthe lever for receiving a support rail, a groove on a first side of saidrecess accepts a flange of the support rail.
 15. The apparatus of claim14, wherein the first end of the lever includes an opening through whicha pin extends to engage a plate to cooperatively grip the flange on thesupport rail.
 16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the flangecomprises a first flange, and a channel on a second side of said recessreceives a second flange of said support rail.
 17. The apparatus ofclaim 16 wherein said channel receives said second flange in a firstreceived position and said base and said support rail pivot with respectto each other such that said groove receives said first flange of saidsupport rail in a secured position in which said pin can engage saidplate to secure said base to said support rail.
 18. The apparatus ofclaim 14 in which said groove defines an acute angle with a planedefined by said recess.
 19. An apparatus comprising a field terminationassembly comprising: a housing including one or more slots, each slotconfigured to receive a respective adaptor module configured to beinserted into said slot, said adaptor module configured to perform atleast one function related to an associated input or output signal; abase comprising a lever configured to be secured to a support rail at afirst end and a mount, a second end of said lever being attached to saidmount, wherein said lever includes a foot at said first end, said footis configured to pivot from a resting position spaced apart from abottom of said mount to a flexed position in engagement with saidbottom; said housing being configured to be mounted to said mount, saidmount including a loop and said housing including a catch configured toengage said loop in a first coupled position and the housing including ahitch and said base includes a latch, said housing and said base pivotwith respect to each other to enable said latch to engage said hitch tomount said base to said housing in a second mounted position.